CMHA is First Champion of Brackets for Good Hartford

Posted by Amy Ogle, Community Contributor

Posted by Amy Ogle, Community Contributor

Community Contributor Amy Ogle

Community Mental Health Affiliates Is First Champion of Brackets For Good HartfordCMHA clinches championship title and $10,000 bonus grant in the Brackets For Good online bracket-style fundraising tournament;Hartford-area Nonprofits Raise $206,348 in 5 Weeks!Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) raised $31,002 in the finals to advance past Hartford City Mission in the 2017 Brackets For Good Hartford tournament, to be crowned this year's champion. CMHA, with 12 locations in three cities in Connecticut, is a treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, advancing recovery from mental illness and addiction.2017 marks the inaugural year for Brackets For Good in Greater Hartford, with 60 nonprofits participating in the head-to-head competitive fundraising tournament. In total, Hartford-area nonprofits that participated in the tournament raised awareness for their organizations and $206,348 across 2,339 donations. Hartford-area nonprofits raised more money than in any of six first-year cities conducting tournaments this year. In only three of 11 cities - Indianapolis, Louisville and St. Louis - was more money raised for local nonprofit organizations than in Hartford.Throughout the six-round, five-week tournament, Community Mental Health Affiliates received 185 individual donations totaling $46,094, the largest amount among the participating nonprofits in the Hartford tournament. As the 2017 Brackets For Good Hartford champion, CMHA will receive an additional $10,000 donation from title sponsor, Stanley Black & Decker. Runner-up Hartford City Mission raised $41,520, ranking second among the nonprofits, from 268 donors. Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center ranked third, raising $24,620 from 162 contributors.CMHA is also invited to travel to Indianapolis for the Brackets For Good Celebration of Champions where they will join 11 other champions for a special recognition and check presentation during halftime of an Indiana Pacers game."Stanley Black & Decker is committed to building a better tomorrow," said Donald Allan, Jr., Stanley Black & Decker Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer, congratulations CMHA on earning the Championship in the tournament's first year in Hartford. "It's not just the homes we help build with our tools, or the schools we protect with our security systems. It's also a commitment to stepping up and bettering our communities. Partnering with Brackets For Good is a fun and impactful way we can support organizations that are serving the Hartford community, where many of our employees call home."Nonprofits advanced through the bracket-style tournament rounds by rallying enthusiastic donors to score more points than their opponent's donors. Every $1 donated through bfg.org equals one point scored for the chosen nonprofit. Competing nonprofits keep donations received during tournament play, no matter how many rounds they advance. It's competitive giving. Everybody wins."Brackets For Good exists because we believe that communities are strengthened when more people learn about and support local organizations that operate in service to the community," said Reid McDowell, Partnerships & Marketing Director of Brackets For Good. "In both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, it's clear that Hartford organizations are dedicated to the strength and health of their community. The 2017 tournament is a testament to the power of sport to generate social good. It's been a fun and impactful March."Eleven cities across the country conducted Brackets for Good tournaments this year, with the support of local businesses. The Hartford tournament was presented by Stanley Black & Decker. Sponsors include Aetna, Express Strategies, Lids, Supporting Strategies, Bloomerang, and The Perfect Promotion.Brackets for Good began in Indianapolis in 2012, and subsequently added Louisville. In 2016, tournaments were launched in Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St.Paul), St. Louis and Ann Arbor, Michigan. This year, Hartford, Miami, Cincinnati, Denver, Miami and Nashville were added.The 2017 nonprofit champion has been crowned, but the Brackets For Good team is already gearing up for the 2018 tournaments that will tip off in Hartford on March 2nd, 2018. 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations interested in being considered for selection to participate can register here before the deadline: bfg.org/nonprofits/registration###About Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc.CMHA is a private non-profit treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, with 12 locations in 3 cities throughout northwest and central Connecticut. CMHA partners with clients and the community to promote recovery from mental illness and addiction, treating more than 6,100 adults and children each year. CMHA is Connecticut's first fully Joint Commission accredited Behavioral Health Home. www.cmhacc.orgAbout Brackets For GoodBrackets For Good is an Indianapolis, IN based 501(c)3 charitable organization focused on activating new donors and increasing awareness for other nonprofit organizations through competitive, online fundraising at no cost. Since the inaugural tournament in 2012, new awareness, fundraising capacity and over $2.75 Million dollars has been raised for hundreds of charitable organizations across the country in an innovative and fun way. For more information, visit bfg.org.Media Contact: Bernard Kavaler, Express Strategies 860.729.3021 bernard@express-strategies.com

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